Car-coupling



(NO Model.)

O- G- RUBY GAR GOUELING. No. 425,001.v Patented Apr. 8, 1890.

UNITED. STATES vPATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES G. RUBY, OF BEACON, IOWA.

CAR-COUPLING'.

SPECIFICATION forming part `of Letters Patent No. 425,001, dated April 8, 1890. i Application filed January 10, 1890. Serial No.336,491. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, CHARLES G..RUTBY,` a citizen of the United States, residing at Beacon, in the county of Mahaska and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplings; and l do declare the following to be a full, clear, and eX- act description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has relation to an improvement in devices for coupling cars; and it has for its object to provide means whereby cars may be automatically coupled and uncoupled without necessitating the objection of going between the cars, the coupling-bar being adapted to serve with a draw-head having the ordinary coupling-pin, and also a draw-head having locking-jaws.

The invention will be fully understood from the following description and claim, when taken in connection with the annexed drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective View of my improved coupling device attached to a portion of a car with the coupling link or bar in position. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a draw-head with my improvements therein, and Fig. 3 is a view of the operating-shaft and ratchet-wheel removed from the drawhead.

Referring by letter to the said drawings, A indicates a draw-head, which may be of any ordinary or approved construction," having suflicient internal space for the lateral movement of the locking-jaws, as will be presently explained. This draw-head is also provided at a suitable point with a vertical aperture a, which is designed to receive a coupling-pin.

B indicates two similar locking-jaws. These jaws are of a form substantially as shown, and arranged entirely within the draw-head, being piyoted therein near their rear ends, as shown at The jaws B are tapered on their rear inner sides from the pivotal point outwardly and rearward-ly, as shown at c, and interposed between these tapered lportions is a spiral or other suitable spring D, which bears at its opposite ends against the inner sides of the beveled or tapered portions, and said spring is sustained in position by a horizontal rod e,

which passes through the spring and also through apertures in the jaws. The opposite or forward ends of these jaws are beveled in the ordinary manner, to conform with the bevel of the coupling link or bar, and have shoulders f to engage similar shoulders on the coupling link or bar, whereby said link may be held within the draw-head.

E indicates the coupling-link. This link is provided on opposite ends with an arrow-head, and such heads are also provided with apertures g, so that they may serve in connection with the spring-actuated jaws or the ordinary coupling-pin.

Arranged in rear of the pin-aperture in the draw-head is the vertical shaft F, having. at its upper end a hand-wheel or other device, whereby said shaft may be turned, and this shaft, which passes vertically through the draw-head, has iXed to it a ratchet-wheel Gr, which is designed to operate in connection with apivoted pawl h, which is backed by a spring t'.

K indicates a horizontal lever which is arranged within the draw-head between the jaws thereof, and is made fast to the shaft F, whereby it may be made to turn as the shaft has been partly rotated. This lever K, which is pivoted midway of its length, is designed, when turned in a transverse plane with respect to the draw-head, to engage the inner sides of the jaws B and move the saine laterally, thereby disengaging the forward ends from the shoulders of the coupling-link and allowing the cars to uncouple.

The shaft F may be extended to the top of a box-car, so that the coupling may be operated from that point, and it is obvious that a rod may be extended to the side of a car, so that the shaft may be operated by a person standing on the gro und without goin g between the cars.

From the position of the pawl and ratchet it will be seen that the shaft is always in a position to turn the lever and throw out the jaws; but in some cases, where a couplinglink of different form is used and the ordinary coupling-pin employed, it is desirable to have the jaws remain out, and in such cases it is simply necessary, after turning the lever in a transverse position, to allow the pawl to engage the ratchet-wheel. The coupler may IOO ver fixed to the lower end of the shaft within the draw-head, a ratchet fixed to the shaft above the drawhead,the jaws pivoted in the head and having their inner rear ends beveled, as at c, the rod e, passing through the beveled portions of the jaws in rear of their pivotal points, and the spiral spring D, surrounding the rod and acting against the jaws, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES G. RUBY.

Witnesses:

W. S. KENWORTHY, DANIEL DAVIS. 

